FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(SEGUIN, Texas) July 23, 2025 — Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) lineworkers competed against the best in the state at the Texas Lineman’s Rodeo and Barbecue Cook-off, bringing home first place in the Journeyworker Hurtman Rescue and Doublebell Changeout events and earning 16 total awards. More than 150 lineworkers from utilities across Texas participated in the rodeo that took place July 18-19 at Nolte Island Park near Seguin.
“We’re proud of our teams who competed this year and who work hard every day to provide PEC members the best service possible,” said Troy Whitehead, PEC director of regional operations. “The Texas Lineman’s Rodeo is always a favorite event for our lineworkers and their families to get together, mingle with other cooperatives and utilities, and showcase what they know.”
The competition brings together lineworkers from across the state to highlight their skills in high-voltage linework, while emphasizing safe work practices. The same skills tested in the rodeo are those used out in the field, which helps PEC crews provide enhanced service and reliability.
PEC received the following awards:
Journeyworkers
Hurtman Rescue
- First Place: Darren Donhauser, David Hernandez, Michael Thyberg
- Third Place: Caleb Brodock, Thomas Logan, Heath Finton
Disconnect and Arrestor Changeout
- Third Place: Zachary McFee, Zackery Gough, Nick Morris
- Fifth Place: Darren Donhauser, David Hernandez, Michael Thyberg
Double Bell Changeout
- First Place: Crispen Davis, Chris Gerchman, Andy Ridge
- Second Place: Caleb Brodock, Thomas Logan, Heath Finton
Cooperative Division
- Third Place: Darren Donhauser, David Hernandez, Michael Thyberg
Senior Division
- Second Place: Juan Hernandez, Jason Fric, Kris Saladino
Apprentices
- Hurtman Rescue
- Second Place: Maverick Michael
Three Phase Transformer Bank - Second Place: Chayton Boyd
Obstacle Pole
- Fifth Place: Collin Dickinson
Overall Apprentice
- Fifth Place: Trey Reese
Barbecue Teams
- Fourth Place Chicken: Aaron Alvarez, Marshall Swoda, Chris Wells, Jeremy Abbott
- Second Place Ribs: Eric Villanueva, Kyle Sauceda, Grady Vasquez, Preston Ingraham
- Fourth Place Ribs: Brandon Womack, David Aguilar, Melvin Burns, Braden Batey
- Fourth Place Brisket: Gilbert Valdez, Dustin Tabbert, Dylan Haltom, Daniel Palacios
Winners of the Texas Lineman’s Rodeo will advance to the International Lineman’s Rodeo, Oct. 15-18 in Overland Park, KS to take the stage against the best in the world.
For additional information, visit tlra.org.
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